The Ultimate Emergency Power Systems Quiz

Blizzards, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes -- natural disasters can strike at any time and take out the city's power for weeks. Forget about luxuries such as television or Internet. When the power is out food spoils, security alarms don't work, and medical equipment fails. Do you have a backup plan for these kinds of emergencies? Take our quiz to learn about the best sources of emergency power.

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Question 1 of 20

The most common cause of a major, long-term power outage is what?

the state's financial problems

natural disasters

Natural disasters, such as tornados and hurricanes, can ravage a city's power grid, and knock out power for weeks at a time.

solar flares

Question 2 of 20

How does a loss of power create greater problems for people living in rural areas?

The loss of power can lead to a loss of well water.

Many rural homes rely on well water, which has to be pumped electrically from the well to the home. When these homes lose power, they lose water as well.

It takes a lot longer for the power company to fix problems in rural areas.

Power outages in rural areas cost more money to fix.

Question 3 of 20

The most expensive consequences of a winter power outage is which of these?

loss of work

frozen or burst pipes

If your power goes out for an extended period of time during the winter, your pipes might freeze or even burst. The repair costs could be in the thousands.

ruined food

Question 4 of 20

Which of these units is used to measure electrical power?

volts

watts

Electrical power is measured in watts. Voltage, on the other hand, refers to the force with which energy is driven through a circuit.

micrometers

Question 5 of 20

What do we mean when we say 60-watt light bulb?

The light bulb runs on 60 watts of power.

A 60-watt light bulb uses 60 watts of energy as it runs. How much total power it can or will use during its shelf life is another matter entirely.

The light bulb will use 60 watts per hour.

The light bulb will use 60 watts during its shelf life.

Question 6 of 20

If wattage is the amount of power something needs in order to run, what is surge wattage?

Surge wattage is the amount of power you need to get something up and running.

Surge wattage refers to the amount of power you need to get something running, while wattage is the amount of power it needs to keep running.

Surge wattage is the amount of power an item can withstand during a power surge.

Surge wattage is the total amount of power an item will use during its shelf-life.

Question 7 of 20

What sorts of items typically have a surge wattage greater than their regular wattage?

items with multiple light bulbs

items with engines or compressors

Something that simply turns on and off, like a light bulb, will not have a surge wattage. Things with motors or compressors -- ceiling fans, refrigerators --need more power to start running than they do to keep running.

items that get warm

Question 8 of 20

Approximately how much power does a regular color television use?

60 watts

150 watts

300 watts

A standard-sized color television uses about 300 watts of power -- about the same as five light bulbs.

Question 9 of 20

Which of these items uses the most power?

a microwave

The amount of power something uses is not based on its size. Your microwave is probably smaller than your television, yet it uses a lot more power.

a television

a light bulb

Question 10 of 20

About how much power does it take to heat or cool an entire house?

5,000 watts

10,000 watts

15,000 watts

There are some things that might be beyond the scope of an emergency generator. It takes about 15,000 watts to run a central A/C, which is more than most generators can handle.

Question 11 of 20

To prevent a power surge from causing your computer to crash, your computer should be attached to what?

a uninterruptable power supply (UPS)

Computers do not respond well to power surges. Use an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) to keep your computer running smoothly.

an extension cord

a power generator

Question 12 of 20

Why should you stagger your power consumption when using a generator?

It's better for the environment.

It's the law.

It will prevent the generator from getting overwhelmed.

Unless you want to spend a fortune for a 20,00 watt generator, you will have to stagger your power consumption to avoid overwhelming your generator.

Question 13 of 20

A 5,000-watt generator can be purchased for as little as how much?

200

600

There are many types of 5,000-watt generators, some of which are quite expensive. You can, however, purchase one for as little as $600.

1000

Question 14 of 20

The average cost of a 10,000-watt generator is around how much?

1200

2000

Although you've only doubled the wattage, when you jump from a 5,000-watt generator to a 10,000-watt, the price nearly triples. Expect to pay around $2,000.

5000

Question 15 of 20

Emergency generators usually run on which of these?

fossil fuels

Most generators run on gasoline or some other fossil fuel. There are also some that run on natural gas.

batteries

solar power

Question 16 of 20

How much gas does a 5,000-watt generator use per hour?

one gallon of gas per hour

When a 5,000-watt generator is running at an output of 1,000 watts, it uses about one gallon of gas per hour.

three gallons of gas per hour

five gallons of gas per hour

Question 17 of 20

For how long can you store gasoline without using special chemicals?

a month

One of the problems with using a gasoline-powered generator is that gasoline can be stored for only about a month unless you use stabilizing chemicals. You might end up having to walk to the gas station in four feet of snow.

a year

a decade

Question 18 of 20

How much horsepower (hp) does a 5,000-watt generator engine have?

1 hp

10 hp

A 5,000-watt generator runs on an engine with 8 - 12 horsepower. The engine is quite noisy, but that's a small price to pay to keep your food edible.

100 hp

Question 19 of 20

What is the function of an inverter?

An inverter converts 12-volt power into 120-volt power.

An inverter is design to convert power from 12-volt output to 120-volt usage. You plug a converter into a car's cigarette lighter and plug your small appliance into an extension cord.

An inverter allows you to turn a 5,000-watt generator into a 10,000-watt generator.

An inverter is a device that prevents power surges.

Question 20 of 20

A 150- to 300-watt inverter can cost as little as how much?

50

Standard inverters, with 150 to 300-watt capacity cost as little as $50. There are inverters that are a lot more powerful, but you'll have to pay a lot more.